Sewing machine



- Aug. 3, 194s. .F RUBEL 2,446,245

SEWING MACHINE Filed March 10, 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 I/.fa

IN VEN TOR. CHARLES vraag-z..

- TTOENE Y Aug 3 1948- c. F. RUBEL l 2,446,245`

SEWING MACHINE Filed March 10. 1945 '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN TORa CHAR/Es fm/BEL BY l ATTORNEY C. F. RUBEL SEWING MACHINE Aug. 3, 194s.

'7 sheets-sheet 4 Filed March lO, 1945 INVENTOR. CHARLES F/UBEL.

ATTOH/E'Y C. F. RUBEL.

SEWING MACHINE Aug. 3, 1948.

'7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 1Q, 1945 L R.E m8 N0. win wel..

ATTORNEY C. F. RUBEL SEWING MACHINE Aug. 3, 1,948.

7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed March 10, 1945 INVENTOR.` wenn ERI/ae;

Afin/@ZE Aug. 3, 194s. c.. F. RUBEL 2,446,245

SEWING MACHINE Filed Manish l0, 1945 1 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Fig -15.

IN VEN TOR.

CHA RLES E'FIUBEL Patented Aug. 3, 1948 SEWING MAcmNn Charles F. Rubel,Chicago, Ill., assignor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, Ill.,a corporation of Illinois applicati@ lMarch 1o, 1945, seria1N0.5s1,9so

This invention relates to an improvedv sewing machine and moreparticularly to improved devices for manipulating and controlling theneedle thread of such a machine under varying circum-l take-ups forsewing machines for preventing continuous winding or entanglement ofneedle thread about a thread engaging element or elements by forcing thethread away from such element or elements, in the event of threadbreakage or preliminary entanglement, and effecting severance of thethread at a point removed from the thread engaging element or elements.y

One of the important objects of the invention is the provision ofsimple, adjustable and effective means, in association with rotarytake-up means, for handling and controlling the needle thread undervarying circumstances encountered during normal operation of a sewingmachine.

Another object of the invention is the lprovision of devices of thecharacter indicated which are inexpensive to manufacture, trouble-freein operation, and which may be'readily assembled and adjusted inrequired position. v

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for forcingneedle thread from a rotary take-up device, in the event of threadbreakage or entanglement, and for severing such thread at a pointremoved from the take-up device. This means is so'arrangedthat theelement employed to sever the thread may be readily replaced or removedfor sharpening purposesyas required, without disturbing the adjustmentof the associated'parts."

A` still further object of the inventionA is the provision of rotarytake-up means secured to a driving shaft andso constructed and arrangedthat in the event of thread breakage, free ends of the thread areprevented from becoming entangled With the driving shaft.' v

- The above enumerated objects are attainedY by various improvedfeatures embodied in the machine. 'The lpresent invention constitutes'animprovement over Charles F. Rubel Patent' No. 2,440,615, entitled"Sewing machine, granted April 27, 1948, wherein I havedisclosed meansadapted to force needle thread, in-the :event of breakage, outwardlybeyond a rotary take-up member. A similar means is embodied inthepresent invention. This means, however, isso constructed and arranged asto be readily and adjustably mounted on themachine and accomplish itsintended function in a positive and trouble-free manner. An element inthe nature of, or lprovided with, a, knife blade having a sharp cuttingedge is mounted in predetermined relation to the above mentioned meansin such a manner that the thread, upon being forced away from the rotarytake-up member, is disposed in a position to be expeditiously severed bythe cutting edgeof the knife blade, as will be more clearly set forth inthe detailed description that follows.

The yforegoing objects, as well as other objects, features andadvantages of the invention, will be apparent to persons skilled in theart from the following detailed description of illustrative embodimentsof the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

Figure l is a view partly in front elevation and partly in longitudinalsection through a sewing machine embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is an end view of the machine as seen from the left in Figurel;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the needle headv portion of themachine, taken from the same end as Figure 2, but with the cover platesand various other parts removed;

Figure 4 is a view of the needle head of the machine, largely 'in frontelevation but partly in section and having portions broken away forclearer illustration of certain features;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of theoverhanging arm of the machine including the needle head;

Figure 6 is an end elevation of the upper portion of the needle headwith parts broken away, the thread take-up and severing devices beingshown with the needle thread in entangled relation;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a thread positioning and removingmember;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a thread severing member;

Figure 9 is an enlarged view, in end elevatiom of the members shown inFigures 7 and 8 operatively mounted on a part of the needle head,portions being broken away for clearer illustration;

Figure 10 is a view in elevation of devices adapted to be carried at thefree end of the needle the take-upv mechanism and thence over a slottedtake-up element 61 `projecting laterally of cam member 65 and carriedthrough vvan .orbital path upon rotation of said cam. From the take-upelement 61 the thread is passed downwardly through a fixed guide 68,thence through a guide 69 carried by and reciprocable with needle bar2|, and finally through the eye of the needle.

Cam member` 65 is secured by means of screws 16 to the outer face of adisc-like flange 1| which, as is best shown in Figure 5, may be eitherintegral with or otherwise suitably securedto a shaft 12 and is providedwith a hub portion 13 and an annular groove or recess 14 surrounding thehub portion. Shaft 12 is rotatably mounted in a pair of bearing sleeves15 and A16, one end of the latter being enlarged to receive hub 13 andextending into annular groove 14. By virtue of the arrangement justdescribed, any loose end of the needle thread, in the event the threadbecomes broken, is prevented from becoming entangled and wound aroundshaft 12.

The operation of thev thread take-up device, including cam member 65 andslotted take-up element 61, is the same as for the corresponding partsof the take-up described in detail in Charles F. Rubell patent2,400,602, entitled Sewing machine and granted May 2l, 1946, and as morefully set forth in the Rubel et a1. patent 2,398,667, entitled Sewingmachine and granted April 16, 1946. For further details as to thetake-up action of the devices described, reference may be had to theforegoing patents.

A plate 86 serves as a closure for the free end of the needle head andis provided with a laterally or axially extending flange 8| which isslotted at 82 (Figure l) to permit cam member 65 to project therethroughduring operation. Slot 82 is lprovided in a straight or flattenedportion of the flange 8|' at the front of the machine. The outer end ofthe flattened portion of the flange is formed with a bracket portion 83extending in a plane parallel with plate 86. y

In the path ofthe needle thread between 'the eyelet 66 and the xed guide68 there is provided a stationary member 85 constituting a combinedthread positioning and removing device. As is best shown in Figure `1,member. 85 is formed with a relatively deep recess'86, the 'center lineof which is preferably substantially in line with eyelet 66. Surfaces 81and 88 serve at certain points in the cycle to guide the thread intorecess86. The inclined lower edge 89 of member 85 is rounded to reducefriction as it forces or cams the needle thread into a notched region96, in the event of thread breakage. This camming action is similar tothat described in detail'in my earlier mentioned patent No. 2,440,615,in the` -event of thread breakage'.

Member 85' is provided withan opening 9| and is formed withan arm 92that is provided with a pair of slots 93 for adjustably attaching themember to bracket 83 by means-of screws 94. v

A member 95 (Figure 8) is also attached to bracket 83 and cooperateswith member 85 in a manner that will now be explained. The member 95includes a knife blade portion 96 having a sharp I and arranged as to'have knife blade -96 disposed closely adjacent the under-surface ofmember 85 with cutting't edge 91 extendingl across notched portionl9|).l Knife blade 96 and arm' 99 are bent at right angles from themain-body of the member which is arranged to t against the inner surfaceof the flattened portion of flange 8|. Should the needle thread becomebroken in the course of operating the machine, the inclined, lower edge89 of member 85 will engage the thread as shown in Figure 6 and'force orcam the thread outwardly and upwardlyk in the Adirectionof notchedportion 90. Due to the configuration and relativepositionsof members 85and 95, the thread so cammed is drawn across and severed by cutting edge91 of knife blade 96, as will be apparent from an examination of thedrawings. This severing action may not occur until the thread has becomewrapped around the element 61 several times and is pulled with sufcientforce by the latter, but the wrapping of more than a few turns isdefinitely prevented.

It will be noted that member 85 may be readily mounted on and removedfrom the machine and may be readily adjusted radially with respect toshaft 12. Moreover, the construction herein described and illustratedpermits 'of the ready removal and replacement of member 95 when cuttingedge 91 becomes dull or for any other reason.

Flange 8| of plate 86 carries a pair of inwardly projecting lugs |64which support a pair of partial closures |65 'and |06 that are securedto the lugs by screws |61 and maintained in spaced relation byspacerfsleeves |68. The relationship between the various elements of thetake-up and the enclosure for the same is such that the threading of thetake-up may be readily carried out even though the take-up is largelyconcealed. The manner of manipulating the needle thread, either in firstthreading the machine or in the event of thread breakage, is similarv tothat more fully discussed in my earlier mentioned Patent No. 2,440,615.The enclosure of the take-up devices is somewhat more nearly complete inaccordance with the present invention, however.

Certain devices,`constituting `additions to and modifications of partsearlier described herein, are illustrated in Figures 10-17, inclusive.Referring more particularly to Figures 10 and l1, wherein these devicesare depicted in one relative assembled position, there is shown a plate|||l, corresponding to plate 86 described above, which serves as aclosure for the free end of the needle head of the machine and -isadapted to be secured thereto by meansof screws Plate ||0 is providedwith a laterally extending flange ||2 that is slotted at ||3 (Figure 11)alonga flatten-ed portion thereof at the front ofthe machine to permitcam member `65 to extend-therethroughy during operation. A bracket ||4is attached to plate ||6 and the flattened portion of flange ||2 bymeans of screws ||5 and ||6,I respectively. A combined threadpositioning and removing member |1, that is generally similar tostationary member 85,.earlier described, includes a. notch I8,corresponding to notch 96 of member 85, one side of which is formed byan edge of an arm H9, having a pair of elongated slots |20 foradjustably attaching member ||1 to bracket ||4 by the use of screws |2I.Both the length and Width of each slot |26 are greater than thedriameter of the shank of screws |21, whereby member ||1 may beadjustably positioned toward' or away. from element 61, as viewed inFigure 10, and toward or a'wayfrom the axis of rotation of cam membery65. It `wi l1 be noted that thisar 'l2 rangement also permits themember-H1 Atobe tiltedy about either ofthe screws |2| as allowed by theother screw |2| and-its corresponding slot.

A thread severing member |22, similar to member 35. includes a knifebiade |23 having a cutting edge |24 and a bent-over portion |25,apertured at |26 for the reception of a screw |21 to permit attachmentto the front face of the iiattened portion of ange |12. Aperture `|26 ispreferably circular and is somewhat greater in diameter than the shankofscrew |21 allowing for adjustment of member i22 with respect to ilangeH2 and member vAs will -be apparent from an inspection of the drawings,members H1 and |22 are independently removable from the machine frameand are relativelyadjustable thereon. Members |'I1 and |22,-moreover,function in the same manner'as members B5 and 35, respectively, inoperation.:

A plate I 30 is aixed to the flattened portion of ilange ||2 by screws|3|, and is provided with a horizontal slot |32 extendingi from its leftedge, as viewed in Figure 11, and communicating with a circular opening|33. This slot arrangement serves as a quick threading device ior thevneedle thread and may be used in place of eyelet 66 shown in Figures 1and 2.

To further simplify the threading of the machine, a device, generallydenoted by numeral |34 (Figures 11 and 14) may be used in place ofeyelet'62 that is carried'by thread guide 63 (Figure 4). This device isattached to plate I|0 by a screw |35 and is formed witha horizontalextension |36 having a plurality of openings |31 through'which thethread 58 is passed after the thread leaves tensioning device 6|(Figures). An arm |38 is provided with a diagonal slot |39, extendingfrom the lower edge thereof and communicating with an opening |40. Abracket I4| is attached to arm |38 -by a screw |42 and carries a nger|43 that extends across slot |39 and forwardly of arm |38, as viewed inFigure 14. The needle thread may -be readily inserted between ringer |43and arm |38 and moved upwardly through slot I 39 and into opening |40 inthe course of threading the machine. Finger |43 prevents the thread frombecoming accidentally disengaged from device |34 during operation. I

Flange 2 carries a plurality of inwardly projecting tapped lugs |45 towhich a partial generally C-shaped, closure |46 (Figure 10) is attachedby screws |41 and maintained in spaced relation to cam member 65.- Acombined protective outer cover and thread guiding plate -or device |48is provided rwith a pair of openings |49 for mounting to bracket ||4 bymeansl of studs |50, as illustrated in Figure l0. With device |48 somounted, a preferably circular through opening therein is coaxial 'withcam member 65. A cut-out |52 in device |48 permits of ready access tomembers ||1 and |22, whereby the latter may be readily adjusted, removedor replaced without disturbing any other parts of the machine. The innerend of device |48 is additionally formed with a substantially annulargroove or recess |53 into which the free end portion of slotted take-upelement 61 projects. This groove serves as a raceway for the free end ofelement 61 in the course of its orbital movement upon rotation of cammember 65. Device |48 is disposed in spa-ced relation to partial closure|46 and slotted take-up element 61, and is so constructed and arrangedwith respect to the associated parts as t-o permitof ready manipulationof the-needle `thread in threading the machine. Moreover, by virtue of`this.construction1 the thread is prevented from slipping orimoving overand beyond thefree end of slotted element 61 should lthe machine be madeto turn in a reverse direction orfor any other circumstance that mighttend to eiect accidental disengagement of Fthe thread from slottedelement 51.

It is believed that the objects, advantages, construction and operationof my present invention will be readily understood from the foregoing bypersonsskilled in the art. It is to be borne in mind, however, thatvarious changes in the preferred form ofthe invention herein illustratedand described may be resorted to Without departingfrom the spirit of theinvention or the scope of the append claims.

I claim:

1. In a sewing machine, a reciprocatory needle bar having ya threadcarrying nnedle secured thereto, a rotary take-up for the needle threadcomprising a rotary member, thread engaging means extending laterallyfrom said member and movable in an orbital path upon rotation thereof,said means having a free end, a stationary member constructed andarranged to force outwardly beyond the free end of said means any threadthat may become improperlyA engaged with the same due to breakage, and astationary thread `severing member associated wtih said last mentionedmember in a manner to effect severance of thread so forced outwardly ata point beyond the free end of said means.

2. In a sewing machine a reciprocatory needle bar having a threadcarrying needle secured thereto, a rotary take-up for the needle threadcomprising a rotary member, thread engaging means extending laterallyfrom said member and movable in an orbital path upon rotation thereof,said means having a free end, a member constructed and arranged to forceoutwardly beyond the free end of said means any thread that may becomeimproperly engaged with the same due to breakage, and a thread severingmember associated with said last mentioned member` in a manner to effectseverance of thread so forced outwardly at a point beyond the .end ofsaid means, said thread severing member having a cuttingv edge disposedin a plane substantially parallel to a plane containing the orbitalpathof said thread engaging means.

3. In a sewing machine, a reciprocatory needle bar having a threadcarrying needle secured thereto, a rotary take-up for the needle threadcomprising a rotary member, a slotted thread engaging element 4extendinglaterally from said memberand carried through a circular path uponrotation thereof, said element having a free end, a stationary threadpositioning member disposed in spaced relation to the rotary member andarranged to pass through the slot'in said element and to force outwardlybeyond the free end of said element any thread that may becomeimproperly engaged therewith due to breakage, anda thread severingmember associated with said thread positioning member in a manner toeilect severance of thread so forced outwardly at a point beyond thefree end of said element.

4. In a sewing machine, a reciprocatory needle bar vhaving `a threadcarrying needle secured thereto,a rotary take-up for the needle threadcomprising a rotary member, a. slotted thread engaging element extendinglaterally from said member 'and carried through a circular path uponrotation thereof, said element having a free end,

a stationary thread positioning member disposed in spaced relation tothe rotary member and arranged to pass through the slot in said elementand to force outwardly beyond the free ond of said element any threadth'at may become improperly engaged therewith due to breakage, and athread severing member associated with said thread positioning member ina manner to effect severance of thread so forced outwardly at a pointbeyond the free end of said element, said thread severing member havinga cutting edge disposed in a plane substantially parallel to a planecontaining the circular path of said thread engaging element.

5. In a sewing machine, a reciprocatory needle bar having a threadcarrying needle secured th'ereto, a rotary take-up for the needle threadcomprising a rotary member, a slotted thread engaging element extendinglaterally from said member and carried through a circular path uponrotation thereof, said element having a free end, a thread positioningmember disposed in spaced relation to the rotary member and arranged topass through the slot in said element and to force outwardly beyond thefree end of said element any thread that may become improperly engagedtherewith due to breakage, said thread positioning member beingadjustable along a path substantially normal to the axis of rotation ofsaid rotary member, and a thread severing member associated with saidthread positioning member in a manner to eiect severance of thread soforced outwardly at a point beyond the free end of said element.

6. In a sewing machine, a reciprocatory needle bar having a threadcarrying needle secured thereto, a rotary take-up for the needle threadcomprising a rotary member, a slotted thread engaging element extendinglaterally from said member and carried th'rough a circular path uponrotation thereof, said element having a free end, a thread positioningmember disposed in spaced relation to the rotary member and arranged topass through the slot in said element and to force outwardly beyond thefree end of said element any thread that may become improperly engagedtherewith due to breakage, said thread positioning member beingadjustable along a path substantially normal to the axis of rotation ofsaid rotary member, and a thread severing member associated with' saidthread positioning member in a manner to eifect severance of thread soforced 10 outwardly at a point beyond the free end of said element, saidthread severing member having a cutting edge disposed in a planesubstantially parallel to a plane containing the circular path of saidthread engaging element.

7. In a sewing machine having a frame, a reciprocatory thread carryingneedle, and a rotary member arranged to engage and impart a takeupaction to the needle thread, said member having radially spaced, axiallyprojecting thread engaging means about which th'e thread may becomeimproperly wound, said means having a free end, means arranged totraverse the space between said projecting means and deect theimproperly wound thread toward and beyond the end of said means, andseparate thread cuttingr means arranged to sever said thread when sodeected, said deflecting means and cutting means being iixed to themachine frame and being independently removable therefrom.

8. In a sewing machine having a frame, a reciprocatory thread carryingneedle, and a rotary member arranged to engage and impart a take-upaction to the needle thread, said member having radially spaced, axiallyprojecting thread engaging means about which the thread may becomeimproperly wound, said member being movable in an orbital path, saidmeans having a free end, means arranged to traverse the space betweensaid projecting means and deiiect vthe improperly wound thread toward`and beyond the end of said means, and separate thread cutting meanshaving a cutting edge disposed in a plane substantially parallel to aplane containing the orbital path of said member said deflecting meansand cutting means being xed to the machine frame and being independentlyremovable therefrom and relatively adjustable thereon.

CHARLES F. RUBEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number

